Well pump



NVENTOR. v

ATTORNEY.

W/LsoN 7'- SMITH I WELL PUMP W. T. SMlTH Filed May 4,

June 11 19 29.

Patented June 11, 19 29.

UNITED {STATES 4 WIILSON T. SMITH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WELL PUMP.

Application filed May 4,

This invention relates to improvements in oil well pumps of the typeillustrated and described in an application for patent filed by meentitled Method of and apparatus for pumping sand laden oil wells,Serial No. 709,887, filed in the U. S. Patent Otfice April 29, 1924,patented Mar. 24, 1925, #1,530,624. In the said application a solvent orliquefying agent was introduced under pressure into the pump chamberbeyond the piston on a non-pumping stroke of the piston, in order tofurther liquefy the heavy sanded hydro-carbons so that the same could besuccessfully pumped without undue or excessive wear on the pump parts.This system has proved highly satisfactory in actual operation onheavily sanded wells, some wells in which the hydro-carbons were soheavily impregnated with sand and other foreign matter that the samecould not be efficiently pumped, readily responding to a pumpingoperation, and producing oils in paying quantities.

In order to further increase the efliciency of the above describedapparatus, I have provided in the structure hereinafter described amechanism for effectively introducing the liquefying agent (suchv asheated oil) under pressure directly against and around the seat of thestanding valve, thus effectively. preventing any undue cutting action ofthe valve seat or its cage.

It is one of the objects of this invent-ion to provide a valve mechanismadapted to be operated on the non-pumping stroke ofa well pump todeliver under pressure a liquefying agent directly around and againstthe seat ofa standin pump valve construction, whereby to effectivelyliquefy heavy or sand laden hydro-carbons upon their entrance into thepump barrel, and to automatically render inoperative said valvemechanism during a pumping stroke. v i V A further object is to providea mechanism that is of simple'construction not easily disorganized, andone that is highly efiicient in operation.

This description is to beregarded as descriptive only and not asrestrictive or limitive of the invention, of which obviously anembodiment may be constructed including many minor modifications withoutdeparting from the general scope herein indicated and hereinafterclaimed.

In the drawings hereto attached and 1925. Serial No; 27,730.

iorming a part of the following specificaion:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the upper portion of an oilwell showing the pump barrel in place therein, and connected at the topwith the operating mechanlsm.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the improved apparatus-ona pumping stroke of the well pump.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the valve mechanism in anoperative condition, the arrows thereon indicating the flow of oil andsolvent on a non pumping stroke.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4; of Figure 2. I

As heretofore set forth the main features of the apparatus and method ofoperation are in all respects essentially the same as in my companionapplication, heretofore mentioned, the improvement mainly consisting indelivering the liquefying agent direct ly to the standing valveconstruction.

Mounted in the well bore 5, is the usual well casing 6, composed of aplurality of coupled sections. Suspended within the casing 6 at theproper depth, and detachably secured to the lower end of the Well tubing7, is a pumping mechanism 8, preferably consisting of a stationary outerbarrel 9, having a shoe 10 secured to the lower end thereof in which ismounted the standing valve 11, all of usual construction.

The upper and lower ends of the barrel 9 are internally threaded, asleeve member 12 having exteriorly threaded ends engaging the upper endof the barrel, and coupling 13 securing the barrel 9 to the well tubing7.

The'lowe-r end of sleeeve 12 is of smaller exterior diameter than theupper end and is adapted to threadingly engage the upper end of anelongated tube.14. Formed in the thicker wall of sleeve 12, are aplurality of circularly arranged vertically disposed oil ports or bores15, designed to direct the liquefying agent introduced through the welltube 7 to the standing valve, as will be more particularly explainedhereinafter.

Secured in screw threaded engagement with the lower end of tube 14, is ashort sleeve 16 having an annular seat 17 on its 11 per end for thereception of the lower end of the pump liner 18, the upper end of theliner being seated in a similar seat 19 formed on the 'lower end ofsleeve'12, the sleeves 12 and 16 when attached to the ends of tubes 14securely holding the liner 18 in position in the pump barrel. The lowerend of sleeve 16 is of larger diameter than the upper end to provide anannular shoulder 20 for the upper end of a cylindrical valve housingmember,21. This member is provided with a bore 22 at its upper endsubstantially equal to the diameter of the pump larly arrangedvertically disposed ports 24 formed in its cylindrical wall, said portsleading from the annular space 60 surrounda ing the tube 14 andcommunicating with the enlarged bore 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. Mounted within this bore at the upper end thereof, is afiat ring 25, provided 'With'a plurality of vertically disposed ports orbores 26, their upper ends communicating with a circular groove 27 thatconnects the ports 24 formed in the housingwall. The lower end of thehousing member 21 is internally threaded for the reception of the upperthreaded end of the shoe 10, of usual form, its upper inner edge beingprovided with a seat 28 in which is mounted a short sleeve or ring 29,its upper edge provided with a plurality of radially disposed ports 30and bearing against the under face of the flat ring 25, to hold the samein position when the pumping mechanism is assembled. Disposed within'theannular space formed by the ring 29 and the inner peripheral wall of theenlarged bore, is a flat helical spring 31, which supports a valveclosure rin 32, that normally contacts with the under ace of ring 25 toclose the ports 26 formed therein, as shown in Fig. 2.

The standing valve seat 35 is secured to the shoe 10, in the usualmanner, and the cage 36 is provided with the usual Garbutt rod 37, thatprojects through. the opening formed in the lower end of the pumpplunger 38 that reciprocates in the pump liner. Pump plunger 39 ishollow and provided midway of its ends with a partition 40 having acentrally disposed opening therein, the

upper edge of theopening being beveled to form an annular seat for theball valve 41. As all of the above described mechanism is operation isnot thought to of usual form, and further as it does not form a part ofthe invention, amore specific description'of the same toggther with itsnecessary.

.' Well tubing 45 connects at its'lower end with the plunger 39, and atits upper end by a pipe line 46 to an oil stora tank 47 10- cate at asuitable distance om the well being pumped. The upper end of the pumpbarrel is sealed by a screw plate 48, and the well tube recipr'ocatesvertically through the usualstufiing box 49 at the upper end of the pumpbarre In order to intermittently introduce a solvent or liquefying agentto the interior of=the pump barrel in advance of the plunger, a pipeline 50 leads from the upper end thereof and is connected to a lubricantfeed pump 51 of any approved design. Interposed in pipe line 50 1s aball check valve 52, and a pressure gage 53 designed to indicate thepressure of the oil within the pump barrel during the operation of thepump. Pump 51 is supplied with a liquefying agent, preferably crudepetroleum, through pipe line54, controlled by a valve 55 connected to apump supply tank 56, that is in turn connected by valve controlled pipeline to the storage tank. In order to increase the fluidity of the oilin the tank .56 should the same be of excessive sand laden character, asteam coil 57 sultably connected to a steam line is mounted therein. a

It will be understood'that'the above described apparatus is exactlysimilar in form and operation to the apparatus described in my companionapplication heretofore mentioned, the function of that apparatus, whichis the main object of this invention, being is in its lowermost position(see Fig. 2), the

feed pum is set in operation to deliver a volumeo heated oil underpressure to the pump barrel at the upperend thereof, the heated oilcompletely filling the chamber of the pump barrel and the chambers'ofthe plunger, the oil passing upwardly through the well tubing 45 throughpipe line 46 to the storage tank. In this position the pressure exertedby the pump plunger on the oilin the barrel will be suflicient toovercome the pressure of the feedpump, and as a consequence the flathelical spring will force the fiat valve ring 32, against the ports 26in ring 25 to close the same.

a On a return movement of the plunger (itsnon-pumping stroke), as shownin Fig. 3, the oil in the pump barrel above the plunger will exceedthepressure of the oil beyond the check valve 55, to close the same andforce the heated oil downwardly through the well "tubing, ports 15 inthe sleeve 12, and the annular space 60, surrounding tube 14, throughthe orts 24 in the housing, ports 25 in the nng 26, the p'essure of theoil forced by the feed pump mg suflicient to operate the valve 32, tounseatthe same and permit the oil to flow through ports 30, into thechamber directly above the seat of the standing valve (see forceddirectly against the valve seat they will co-mingle with the stream ofsand laden oil flowing upwardly through the standing valve completelyliquefying the same so that.

they may be efliciently pumped without injury to the pump packings andmechanism. Further as the heated oil is delivered di rectly against thestanding valve seat, no choking will occur, the ball valve seatingproperly on a return stroke of the plunger.

When the pump plunger has reached the limit of its upward movement andthe downward or pumping movement is begun, the check valve '55 willautomatically open as .the pressure on the oil in the upper portion ofthe pump barrel is relieved to permit of a fresh supply of liquefyingoil to the chamber of the pump barrel and from thence through the valveports to the standing valve. As the plunger continues to descend the,standing valve will automatically be sealed, and the oil thereabove willbe forced upwardly through the hollow plunger and the .well tubing tothe storage tank. It will be understood, as heretofore explained, thatthe pressure in the pump barrel below the plunger exceeds the pressureabovethe pump plunger, and the helical spring 31 will force the valvering 32 against the ports 26 and 30 to close the same.

'By placing acheck valve in the pipe line all back pressure on the feedpump 51 is relieved, thereby eliminating any danger of destroying orotherwise injurlng the pump packings of valve seats of the pump.

By intermittently introducing on the non-' pumping stroke of the pump, afluid oil for liquefying the heavy sand laden oil issuing from the well,I am enabled to eificiently pump such oil with little difiicultyr What Iclaim. is: 1. A valve construction for deep well pumps comprising a pumpbarrel, a tube concentrically mounted within said barrel and rigidlysecured thereto in spaced relation to form an annular fluid passage,said passage open at its upper end and communicating with the pumpbarrel at its lower end, a valve for controlling the lower end of thepassage, and a spring acting against the valve to normally seat thesame.

2. A valve for oil well pumps comprising a pump barrel,, a tubeconcentrically mounted within said barrel and spaced therefrom to forman annular fluid passage open at its upper end, said barrel and tubebeing rigidly connected together at their lowerends, said tube having aseries of fluid ports communicating with the annular fluid passage atits lower end, a valve closure for controlling the ports, and a springfor normally seating the valve'closure.

3. A, valve construction for 01 comprising a pump barrel, a tubeconcentrically mounted in said barrel and rigidly secured thereto at itslower end to form a lwell pumpsfluid passage open at its upper end, saidtube having a series. of fluid ports at its lower end communicating withsimilar ports leading to the lower end of the fluid passage, a

ring valve for controlling all the ports lead-

